Chapter 17: Dreadslayers

"You guys are going out?" Shun asked as he limped forward with one of his hands bandaged.

"Yes, and it seems like you are recovering fast indeed," Mei said with a hint of surprise.

Shun glanced at his body and said with a smug smile, "Oh, it's nothing."

"Sister Mei, let's go lest we become late," Arion said with a snort, feeling irked by Shun's smile.

"Alright, if you have any problem, don't move around too much and wait for us to return," Mei said in a cautionary tone and left the room.

"Just because we are leaving, don't get any ideas and steal anything," Arion said with a narrowed gaze.

Shun trilled his lips as he said, "Do I look like I am interested in stealing anything from here?"

"You look fishy as a thief," Arion said with a scoff.

Shun smirked, "Then you better watch out. I might steal your spare wheelchair, haha."

"You! Forget it, why should I burn out my nerves talking to you," Arion left with a harrumph, leaving behind Shun, who had a playful smile on his face.

But then his expression turned serious as he looked out the window and mumbled in a determined tone, "I will find a way...I have to…"

As Mei and Arion walked through the lane, they were greeted by people walking past or working on the fields.

Even Arion was treated with the same respect and greeted as he passed through the lane. Everyone in the Fok Grove Ward had high respect for Mei to the point some even saw her as a saintess sent by the gods.

She was even known across many villages as 'The Moon Saintess' since she was as beautiful and bright as the moon while carrying an otherworldly charm. Her healing prowess only complimented her epithet and was renowned across many villages as a gifted Healifier.

There were other Healifiers living around the Ingerna Isle, but Mei stood out among a few because of her captivating beauty coupled with her skills.

That was why they treated Arion well as well and didn't look down on him because of his disability. However, this treatment for Arion was only prevalent within his own ward.

Once he stepped outside his ward, then he would only receive scorns and gazes of jealousy and anger.

Even though everyone saw him as Mei's little brother, they felt as if he was lucky to be able to spend time with her always, while others felt that he was having everything easy by having someone like her running around and doing everything for him.

Only that they had no idea of how hard Arion was trying all these years to even connect with Prana, to the point of going all the way to the Central Ward while enduring all the bullying and insults.

Fok Grove Ward was a remote ward in the Rimfefall Village, and even though people knew Mei lived there, no one dared to trouble her since she was offered protection by the Village Chief.

And not many lived in the Fok Grove Ward since it was the place allocated for retired people who had done enough work and service during their prime years and deserved a good rest after serving for a good number of years.

Mei, along with Arion, was allowed to live here as an exception due to her importance. Also, at the same time, she could sometimes accept people in the same ward who needed emergency care since they were mostly elderly people.

So, at least, on paper, she was the official Healifier allotted for the Fok Grove Ward, and that's why most were envious of the Fok Grove Ward for having the 'Moon Saintess' as their Healifier.

Arion was familiar with the Village Chief since he was a kind old man who always gave him tips and motivated him to become a Defier and be a hero of the village by becoming a Dreadslayer!

The title 'Dreadslayer' was enough to send shivers through any common man's heart since they were the pillars of society who protected all life on the island from the abysmal dangers threatening the livelihoods of all people on every island.

These Dreadslayers were powerful Defiers who were highly respected and revered by every single person living in these islands.

No matter where they went, they would be treated as honored guests and enjoy fame and glory.

If someone asked the common people whether they deserved all this, they would surely reply that it was worth it since these Dreadslayers were risking and putting their lives in danger by protecting and keeping them safe.

Some of these Dreadslayers die every year while trying to protect their people, and even after death, they were given an honorary burial, and no one knows when the other Dreadslayers might die like their fallen comrades.

Defiers were already rare, to begin with, and only a minority of them were good enough to become Dreadslayers.

Arion wanted to become a Defier not only because he wanted to help relieve the burden on Mei's shoulders but also to make sure that he had the power to protect her from any dangers.

He didn't want to let Mei handle everything and tire herself down. Since the islands were surrounded by the Abysmal Sea, lots of monsters and powerful creatures enter the lands and kill people every day.

That's where these Dreadslayers come into the picture and kill these Dreadlings to maintain peace and safety.

Recently, the number of Dreadslayers has been becoming lesser, and Arion knew that one day the danger would reach his ward, and even Mei would not be able to handle these dangers by herself.

So, right from the day, he learned about the world of Defiers, he had been dreaming of becoming one.

His eyes would shine with solid determination and resolve whenever he saw a Dreadslayer, even the ones that retired.

Soon enough, Mei and Arion came upon a long carriage drawn by four horses and a few people seated inside.

Arion felt eager to get inside the carriage since he was happy that this time he was going to be successful this time compared to how he used to visit the Central Ward with a heavy heart.

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A/N :- Would appreciate some powerstone love to push this novel ahead :)